It’s all about Communication

We founded Canine Country in order to improve relationships between dogs and owners. We strive to show you and your dog how to better relate to one another using respect, communication and cooperation. Utilizing only positive reinforcement training methods, you and your dog will be treated with kindness, compassion and understanding.

While Canine Country is the premier behavior-based academy for dogs, teaching owners how to communicate and understand your dog’s language is the primary component to our methods.

Plain and simply…

Meet Your Local Officials (Our Trainers)

Paula Nowak

Paula Nowak, owner of Canine Country Academy, LLC with three service areas in Lawrenceville and Athens, GA as well as Nashville, TN, began her dog training passion seven years ago by taking her own dogs through various group classes at Canine Country Academy. While she was enjoying teaching her own dogs she was also training sales professionals in the corporate world. She soon realized that training people with dogs brought her much more joy! She started learning all she could about dog behavior and training through books, seminars, conferences and apprenticing with CCA’s founder Cathy Bruce. Paula now runs the business side as well as teaching group classes, private lessons and presenting educational talks with the goal of injecting fun into all aspects of dog training to help dogs and their owners live together happily.Paula has been featured on Atlanta Plugged In helping even more people learn about various dog training and behavior topics. She also contributes to blog posts including: Brit & Co, Chewy.com and CEO Blog Nation.She shares her life with her husband Buddy, who has been a huge support in her following her passion of dog training and their three amazing Terriers. Paula has earned her AKC Novice Rally title with one of her dogs, Curly. She has also achieved a NW1 and NW2 title with her dog Molly and looks forward to their first attempt at NW3. Curly also has an Advanced trick dog title through Kyra Sundance’s Trick Dog program.. Norby, their newest member to the family, is working on Nose Work and his first Trick Dog Title.During her training at Canine Country Academy she fell in love with teaching not only her own dogs, but the ability to help other dog/human relationships develop the close bond she experienced through training. Her love of animals dates back to early childhood and continues to grow with each new experience. Over the last 9 years, she has also been involved in rehabilitating Rat Terriers through rescue organizations. She has worked with New Rattitude Rat Terrier Rescue & Adoptions. She also works with Rescue Ranch a local dog rescue organization. Teaching people and dogs has connected her with an amazing organization, Mister Migs, where she is currently partnering as a mentor. Mister Migs makes “Dog Gear for Good” providing real-life work and community experience to marginalized youth. Paula is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), AKC Star Puppy and Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Connection, Cooperation & Control™ - Level 1 Instructor and Certified Trick Dog Instructor through Kyra Sundance’s program. She is also a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. While educating others is her passion she also takes every opportunity to learn from some of the best educators by attending seminars, conferences and reading their books. These include: Suzanne Clothier (currently working on C.A.R.A.T. 1.2), Clicker Expo speakers, S.A.N.E. Solutions for Challenging Dog Behavior with Kathy Cascade, International TTouch Instructor and more. In 2017, she is attending the Association of Professional Dog Trainers conference in Richmond, VA. Paula is excited to be a part of Suzanne Clothier and Cindy Knowlton’s newest relationship centered program Connection, Cooperation & Control™. She is one of the inaugural pioneer trainers bringing this program to the Southeast. It is absolutely amazing!

Ali Weihl

Ali Weihl has always had a passion for animals. Starting in high school, she was intent on training marine mammals, so she spent one summer volunteering atthe Georgia Aquarium, got her scuba certification, and spent another summer as an intern at the Pittsburgh Aquarium. While at the Pittsburgh Aquarium, she assisted the head penguin-keeper. Then, two years ago, as she worked with a dog and horse trainer in Western Pennsylvania, her passion turned from marine mammals to dogs because of the ability to be more hands-on and utilize more positive reinforcement techniques. After graduating from Saint Vincent College (Latrobe, PA) with a degree in Biology, she moved to Georgia in June of 2013. She started out working in daycare at CCA as well as auditing classes such as Puppy, Scent Work, Reactive, and Rally. Since then, she has advanced to teaching Puppy and Scent Work classes. In order to gain more knowledge and a better understanding of clicker training, she completed a course through the Karen Pryor Academy. She continues her ongoing education by attending seminars on dog behavior and scent work. Ali spends her spare time reading books and articles on dog training as well as working with her rescue dog Bailey.

Rachel Emery

Rachel Emery has been passionate about dogs and dog behavior for many years and jumped at the opportunity to work full time with the dogs of Canine Country Academy as the daycare and boarding manager starting in the summer of 2012. After the closing of our daycare and boarding services she transitioned to auditing and assisting in a variety of classes at CCA. Currently, she primarily teaches Puppy 101 and Intro to Scent Work classes and assists with Reactive classes. Over the last several years she has attended seminars by Kathy Cascade and Nicole Wilde hosted at CCA and is constantly seeking out opportunities to learn more about behavior. She has 3 big dogs of her own, Sassy, Chance and Rocky and a one-eyed cat named KitKat (aka Trouble). She is also a volunteer in the rescue community with a soft spot for Pointer Rescue.

Morgan Moore

Morgan Moore began her career in animal training with marine mammals, when she was first introduced to the concepts of operant conditioning and positive reinforcement.Morgan took those techniques and applied them as a volunteer dog trainer for Atlanta Pet Rescue, in order to increase the likelihood that the dogs would be adopted. She worked as an Animal Training Intern with bottlenose dolphins at Marineland Dolphin Adventure in St. Augustine, Florida. Upon completing the internship, Morgan worked as a Marine Mammal Aide at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where she gained experience with bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, Harbor seals, African penguins, and Asian small-clawed otters. Morgan saw the need for positive reinforcement training among her own family and friends with their household pets, so she decided to transition from training marine mammals to teaching people how to develop a relationship with their dogs based on mutual trust and respect. Morgan completed the apprenticeship program at Canine Country Academy and has since been teaching group classes for Puppy obedience and agility, AKC Canine Good Citizen, Canine Life and Social Skills, AKC Rally and Scent Work.Her volunteer hours with the Northeast GA Canine Club garnered her invaluable experience with three of the very first UKC Nose Work trials in GA.In addition to her work with CCA, she has also had experience assisting a holistic veterinarian and nutrition expert in Athens, GA.Morgan is currently available for private in-home behavior consultations for obedience and behavioral issues in the Nashville area. She continues to attend seminars, conferences, and training workshops with trainers and behaviorists such as Suzanne Clothier and Kathy Cascade in order to stay up to date on the most current positive training methods. Morgan takes an ethical and holistic approach to dog training. Her priority is to help people better understand their dogs, so they can learn to relate to them as an individual and communicate with them effectively, using only positive and humane methods. Morgan and her husband, Nate, live in Nashville, TN.

Hannah Pemberton

Hannah began her passion for dogs through teaching her childhood dogs basic obedience. Throughout high school she volunteered to socialize and exercise dogs in the county animal shelter, and enjoyed sharing their personalities with adopters. Hannah moved to the Atlanta area in 2016 and took the opportunity to explore dog sports and training. After enrolling her dog, Linus, in Scentwork and witnessing his confidence grow, Hannah knew she wanted to commit as much of her life as possible to helping other owners and dogs. In 2016 Hannah completed the CCA apprenticeship program under the direction of Cathy Bruce where she gained knowledge and practical experience in dog training and behavior. Hannah has a passion for fun competition and looks forward to learning more from every dog and owner and loves currently teaching Puppy and Scent Work classes at CCA! Hannah, her husband Jeff and Linus live under the care of two cats Bagel and Artemis.

Explore! (Our Classes)

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Country

Stress City

Reactive Dog

Shy Dog

Without Force or Fear Vet Care

Puppytown

Puppy

Adolescent Pup

Puppy Agility Fun

Mannerton

Manners 101

Manners 201

Connection, Cooperation & Control™

Scenterville

Intro to Scent Work Level 1

Intro to Scent Work Level 2

Intro to Target Odor

Advanced Scent Work Competition Prep

Sportenburg

Agility Fun

Rally Obedience (Intro & Foundation)

Rally Obedience (Advanced Coursework)

K9 Playground

Clicks for Tricks

Without Force or Fear Vet Care

Dogs tend to find basic vet care and vet visits stressful (as do their owners). If you would like to prevent such stress and/or change how your dog feels about vet visits, this is the group class for you! This class will focus on reducing fear or force when getting vaccinations, getting on the scale, being muzzled, positive handling/physical exam, brushing teeth and more. Age range: all ages (the earlier the better to prevent creating fearful experiences). Pre requisite: dogs must be friendly with people and other dogs. (Six weeks/ Fee: $165)

Shy Dog

Is your dog shy or fearful or gets worried or anxious about people, dogs or other environmental stimuli? Boost your dog's confidence and help him overcome his fear in this wonderful course! You will learn valuable tools to help your shy dog in new situations and this class will give your canine companion a wonderful opportunity to blossom into a more confident dog. A variety of positive and force free techniques will be incorporated into this course to help your dog learn that the world does not have to be a scary place! Age range: all ages (Please note we only take a maximum of 4 dogs in this class.) (Six weeks/ Fee: $180)

Reactive Dog

Are you embarrassed taking your dog out with you to public places? Does your dog seem to lose his/her mind when seeing another dog, person or other trigger? Is your dog suffering from leash frustration? Then this is the class for you! This course will help you gain confidence, better leash handling skills and your dog will learn better manners and coping skills when seeing dogs or people that seem to “set them off.” You will take home valuable training tools to help you and your dog have a less stressful experience when out and about. (Pre-requisite: dogs will be pre-screened before acceptance into this class) Please note: we only take a maximum of 4 dogs for this course (Six weeks/ Fee: $180)

Clicks for Tricks

Who is ready to Click for a Trick? This is a fun clicker based Tricks class jammed with lots of fun learning for your dog! The course is tailored to work both on standard dog tricks as well as new tricks you would like to teach your dog. There is no better way to mentally stimulate your dog than to teach them some new tricks! Age range: all ages (Six weeks/ $150)

K9 Playground

Looking to spice up your relationship with your dog with new challenges each week? This class is exactly what you need! Each week we will have a theme such as: Relay Races, Staycation, Speed Racer, A-Mazing, Hide N Seek and Can Your Dog Do This challenge? What is the purpose of the challenges? We will focus on games to build on existing skills such as coming when called, stay, connection work, speed in "sit" and "down" and more. The dogs will primarily work one at a time to allow for off leash experiences. If you and your dog are looking for the ultimate fun in your training experience this is the class for you! Pre-requisite: dogs must have completed either Puppy 101 or 201 or Manners 101 or 201 (Six weeks/ Fee: $155)

Rally Obedience (Advanced Coursework)

Are you serious about competing in AKC or UKC Rally Obedience? This course is a competition prep course incorporating different levels of coursework to challenge and prepare you and your dog for Rally trials. (Pre-requisite: Rally Intro & Foundation course) (Six weeks/ Fee: $155)

Rally Obedience (Intro & Foundation)

Rally obedience is a fun and controlled low impact dog sport, combining teamwork with dog and handler with challenging obedience coursework. This class will prepare dogs and owners to compete in Rally competition, or owners and their dogs can just have fun learning more obedience commands and building teamwork with their dog. Pre-requisite: Puppy 101 or Manners 101 (Six weeks/ Fee: $145)

Agility Fun

Let the games begin! This is a fun class for both owner and dog incorporating strengthening your bond as a team and building confidence in your dog. Your dog will learn how to go over jumps, through tunnels, weave poles and other agility contact obstacles like the A Frame and teeter board. This class will also work on off leash reliable recall skills. Age range: 12 months and older (Pre-requisite: Manners 101 or 201) (Six weeks/ Fee: $160)

Advanced Scent Work Competition Prep

Is your dog proficient on a competition Scent Work odor? This Scent Work competition prep class is an off and onsite course where you and your dog will have the opportunity to practice searching for hides in simulated trial like environments. Multiple search environments in different locations will include interior and containers, exterior and vehicle work. This course also equips students with excellent competition handling skills and incorporates adding multiple odors for further competition. (Pre-requisite: dogs must be proficient on at least one competition odor) (Six weeks/ Fee: $155)

Intro to Target Odor

You have completed Intro to Scent Work Level 1 and 2 and your dog whispers in your ear "Let's compete.....I love this sniffing thing!" Intro to Target Odor is the next step towards preparing your dog for competitive scent work. Dogs in this course will be imprinted on competition Birch odor. Handlers will also continue to hone their skills in leash work and supporting the dog as a team. (Pre-requisite: dogs must complete at least one session of Intro to Scent Work Level 1 and Level 2) (Six weeks/ Fee: $150)

Intro to Scent Work Level 2

Is your dog just waiting for you to hop in the car to take him/her back to Scent Work? Joining our Intro to Scent Work Level 2 course will take your dog's scenting skills to the next level and is also a pre requisite to imprinting your dog on a competition odor. Dogs will continue to search for primary reward in these elements: interior, exterior, vehicles and containers. (Pre-requisite: dogs must complete Intro to Scent Work Level 1) (Six weeks/ Fee: $145)

Intro to Scent Work Level 1

Scent Work is for any dog who has a nose! This activity will satisfy your dog's mental stimulation and olfactory needs (the need to SNIFF)! It is also very beneficial for dogs lacking in confidence or dogs who need a job. Intro to Scent Work is for all dogs of any age and any breed. This introductory course teaches your dog the foundation of the game, gets them focused and builds your dog’s intensity to hunt. The human students will also learn to hone their own observation skills and enjoy watching their dogs have fun! Age range: all ages (Six weeks/ Fee: $145)

Connection, Cooperation & Control™

Do you wish your dog had better leash walking manners or do they only listen to you at home? The Connection, Cooperation & Control (CCC)™ system can help you create the kind of connection and cooperation you want with your dog. Founded on the principles of Suzanne Clothier’s Relationship Centered Training™, CCC helps you create mutual connection with your dog, while you also develop cheerful cooperation. The CCC ™ course focuses on the ingredients that create a strong relationship, like handler body language and intent, teaching dogs how to ask permission before dashing off or dragging you around. Best of all, this training system offers the opportunity to train the way real life happens – without a bait bag or treats in the handler’s pocket! Check out a Before & After video: Click Here. For dogs four months and up.
(Prerequisite: Sit or Down/Stay is recommended, not required)(Six weeks/Fee:$170)

Manners 201

Are you ready to take your dog’s manners and impulse control skills to the next level? The Manners 201 class is a great follow-up to our Manners 101 class by focusing on additional challenges and skills such as: Walking Past Another Dog, Walking through a Crowd, Supervised Separation, Handling/Grooming, Polite Greeting and more! Prerequisite: Manners 101 (Six weeks/ Fee: $155)

Manners 101

Join this essential beginner obedience/manners class for dogs 12 months and older (or graduates of Puppy 101 or 201)! Your dog will learn: SIT, DOWN, LOOSE LEASH WALKING, WAIT TO BE FED, WAIT AT THE DOOR, POLITE GREETING, STAY and more! Students with newly adopted dogs who are new to training and dogs that need to brush up on skills, as well as those pursuing therapy dog goals, will benefit from this progressive obedience class. Age range: 12 months and older (Six weeks/ Fee: $150)

Puppy Agility Fun

Are you looking forward to getting your puppy into the sport of Agility, but they are too young to really get started? Or maybe you are looking for a way to burn off extra energy while having fun with your puppy? This fun class is designed to get your puppy moving, learning some foundational agility skills appropriate for your puppies age and continue their socialization. The puppies will be working on various pieces of equipment kept at low impact levels to prevent injury. Age range: under 12 months (Pre-requisite: puppies who have completed Puppy 101 at CCA or Puppy class elsewhere) (Six weeks/ Fee: $140)

Adolescent Pup

Your teenage puppy is growing quickly and you want to work on those important age appropriate manners! In this class, puppies and their owners will focus on skills such as LEAVE-IT, WAIT AT THE DOOR, SIT, DOWN, LOOSE LEASH WALKING, STAY, POLITE GREETING and MORE while slowly introducing more distractions. This class will also help students navigate through the challenges of living with an adolescent puppy behavior changes. The class is designed for 6 to 11 month old puppies who have completed our Puppy class or are just getting started in training. (Six weeks/Fee: $140)

Puppy

Setting you and your new puppy up for success! This foundational puppy course covers important skills such as LOOSE LEASH WALKING, SIT, DOWN, COME, POLITE GREETING, CRATE TRAINING, RELAXATION and MORE, and provides good socialization with people, other puppies and new things. You and your puppy will also learn how to navigate through other behavioral issues like housebreaking, jumping, chewing and mouthing. Age range: 2.5 months to 5.5 months of age (Six weeks/Fee: $135)

Behavior Consulting – The Canine Country Approach

At Canine Country, we approach behavior problems holistically: looking at the whole dog – mind, body and emotion – to ascertain the root cause of behavior issues. We work with the dog and owner, together, from the inside out. Because we do not apply typical dog-training “band aids” to treat symptoms, we help you achieve longer and more lasting behavior changes.

When necessary, we also work closely with your veterinary team to ensure that any behavior issues potentially caused by physical problems are brought to light, and that any physical problems can be remedied by a veterinarian expert. If fact, we are proud to have many great cross consulting relationships with veterinary clinics in the area.

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100% Positive Reinforcement

The use of punishment or aversive techniques can be a recipe for disaster for a dog suffering from reactivity, aggression or fear. Beware of “dog experts” who would try to convince you that your dog suffering from behavior problems is trying to dominate you. In many cases, dogs with these types of problems are dealing with fear issues that have been completely misunderstood or overlooked.

Our role as your behavior consultant is to help you better understand what your dog is communicating, and to fix the root cause of that fear.

We are happy to customize and quote a tailored, consultative solution for your dog’s particular behavior issues. Generally lasting about 90-minues, our in-home or on-site behavior consultations will HELP YOU get your beloved canine back on the right track to a happy and more balanced life!

Things to Do

Upcoming Events

Performance Scent Dog Talk

Darla Lacey will be sharing information about a new sniffing sport coming to our area with Peformance Scent Dogs. Your dog loves to sniff! Give them another outlet to do their thing while you have fun competiting with your dog best friend.

Travel Reviews

We love Canine Country Academy. When Cait was only nine weeks old we started puppy classes just to learn basic manners and socialization skills. She is now four years old with titles in Nosework and Rally Obedience, Advanced Trick Dog, and serves as a therapy dog (TDI) to schools, retirement centers, and hospitals. The best part is that all her training has been positive and fun. We have had a great time at CCA!!!

Salena Lynch and Cait

For almost two years I have had the privilege of training at CCA. My dog Harper is unique in many ways. From the age of 12 weeks she has worked her way through the requirements to become a trained service animal. Harper isn’t your traditional service dog. She weighs in at 13 pounds, has never met a task she couldn’t master and is full of attitude. CCA has guided us through many challenges that are specific to our daily work, as well as the many “normal” issues that coming with having a dog in your life. The trainers have managed to challenge us in creative ways through agility, rally, tricks classes and more. Their care and concern toward us is evident in the planning they put into every class. I am grateful to have found these wonderful trainers and I frequently recommend Canine Country Academy to everyone who compliments Harper.

Annie Fields and Harper

I can’t say “Thank you” enough to CCA. From my very first interaction with them I could tell that they put the needs of the dogs, first. They were looking out for me and my dog instead of just trying to make money. I have a fearful, 2 year old Chihuahua named Aurora, and our trainer has helped us both tremendously. We have had private lessons and Shy Dog class. We have a long way to go, but we have come so far! Our trainer has given me an abundant amount of resources and techniques and tools so that I can continue our work at home between classes. Aurora and I have become closer throughout these classes because I’ve learned how to anticipate her needs and I’ve learned how to help her deal with her high anxiety triggers. I can’t wait for the next class for Aurora and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for her and how far she will go!!!

Tamara Stephens and Aurora

We found Canine Country Academy we read every book and watched every video we could find about training. Overwhelmed and frustrated by so much conflicting information, we bought into training methods that only made things worse. We care about our dogs like family members and we were so lost. After a very bad experience with another trainer, a trusted friend referred us to Canine Country Academy. Our trainers have been absolutely amazing and incredibly caring. Their knowledge and experience has taught us so much and helped all of us and our dogs have better lives. We would have been lost without them. Thank you all!!!

Andy Runton and Gable & Gizmo

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